Tent



March 17, 1942. M, QNN 2,277,020

TENT

Filed Dec. 26, 1940 2 Sheets-She et 1 mural n70,

ATTORNEY.

March 17, 1942.

M. LYNN TENT Filed Dec 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2&8 [26 3 25 22 WdL W L 7/ 76L IL INVENTOR: Moore Lynn flaw/44:

2 A oR/vEX Patented Mar. 17, 1942 TENT 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tents and one of the general objects of the invention is to provide a tent which may be set up directly upon the ground or upon a cot.

Another object is to provide a tent of the character stated which may be used as a single tent for one person or extended for use as a double tent for two persons.

Another object is to provide a tent of the character stated with improved means for taking up any slack in the canvas or covering of the tent.

Another object is to provide a tent with an improved window.

Another object is to provide a tent of the character stated which may be set up in position for use without guy ropes to hold it to the ground.

A further object is to provide a tent which is adjustable as to width, so that it may be made wider or narrower as desired.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings which form a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of my tent shown set up directly upon the ground, with portions of the covering broken away to show certain features of construction.

Figure 2 is a perspective of my tent shown mounted upon and'covering a cot, with portions of the covering broken away to illustrate certain features of construction.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the improved tent frame.

, Figure 4 is a perspective of the tent with the higher side of the covering swung up and supported as an awning by braces.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the rug which may be placed upon the ground inside of the tent to provide a dry floor for the tent, when set up upon the ground, as shown in Figure 1, and may also be hung under a cot to form a pocket to hold clothes and other articles, when the tent is mounted upon a cot, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an end view of a modification of my invention, showing two of my tents mounted on two cots, respectively, and the front members of the tent covers swung up and supported to cover the space between the two cots and tents.

Figure 7 is an end view of my tent, showing the end base rails of the tent frame extended forwardly and the front member of the tent cover swung out and the lower corners of the cover tied to the forward ends of said end rails to make the tent wider.

Figure 8 is a perspective of one of the end base rails of the tent supporting frame.

Figure 9 is a perspective of the rear base rail of the supporting frame.

Figure 10 is a perspective of the upper rear rail and the front top rail of the supporting frame.

Figure 11 is a perspective of one of the rear corner'postsof the supporting frame.

Figure 12 is a perspective of one of the front corner posts of the supporting frame.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the front corner posts shown in Fig. 12, with said post clamped to the side rail of a cot and adjusted to vertical position.

Figure 14 is a vertical section of the universal ball and socket joint of the front corner post shown in Fig. 12.

Figure 15 is a perspectiveof one of the extensible braces for supporting the front member of the tent cover in an elevated position.

Figure 16 is a perspective of an extensible corner post of the supporting frame.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary perspective of one upper corner of the tent.

Figure 18 is an elevation of one of the stakes for holding the tent frame on the ground.

Figure 19 is an inside elevation of the tent window.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters in all of the figures, my tent comprises generally a supporting frame I and a covering 2, which fits over and is supported by said frame.

The frame 1 includes an extensible rear base rail 3; extensible end base rails 4; short rear corner posts 5 clamped on said end rails respectively, adjacent said rear base rail; an extensible upper rear rail 6 supported at its ends on the upper ends of said corner posts respectively; high front corner posts I clamped on the end base rails 4 respectively, at the forward ends thereof; and an extensible top rail 8 supported at its ends on the upper ends of said high front corner posts 1, respectively.

The extensible rear base rail 3 is made in two rail sections 9 and 10 which are slidably connected together, side-by-side, by guide straps II and I2, which extend around said sections, the strap ll being secured to the section 9 by a nail l3, and the strap I2 being secured to the rail ID by a nail 14, so that the rail section 10 may slide Within the strap H and the section 9 may slide within the strap l2 for lengthening .or shortening the rail 3. The rail sections 9 and 10 may be secured against relative sliding movement by a thumb screw I5, which is threaded through the rail section III for engaging the inner side of the rail section 9, whereby the rail 3 may be secured in adjusted positions of different lengths. Screw clamps I6 are secured on the outer ends, respectively, of the rail sections 9 and In for clamping. said ends of said sections to the rear ends of the end rails 4, respectively, each of said clamps comprising an angle iron IT, with angle members I8 and I9, and a thumb screw 29 threaded through the angle member I9. The angle member I8 of one clamp I6 is secured to the lower side of the rail section 9 at the outer end of said section, with the angle member I9 extending upwardly from the angle member I3, at a short distance beyond the outer end of said rail section 9. The angle member I8 of another clamp I6 is secured to the lower side of the rail section II), at the outer end of said section, with the angle member I9 upstanding from the angle member I8, at a short distance beyond the outer end of said rail section II).

Each extensible end rail 4 is made in two rail sections 2| and 22 which are slidably connected together, side-by-side by guide straps 23 and 24, which extend around said sections, the strap 23 being secured to the section 2| by a nail 25 and the strap 24 being secured to the section 22 by a nail 26, so that the section 22 may slide through the strap 23 and the section 2| may slide through the strap 24 for lengthening or shortening the end rail 4. A thumb screw 21 is threaded through the rail section 2| for engaging the rail section 22 for securing said sections against relative sliding movement whereby the end rail 4 may be secured in adjusted positions of different lengths.

On the lower ends of the short rear posts are secured screw clamps 28 like the clamps I6, for clamping said ends of said posts on the sections 2| of the end rails 4, respectively, and the upper ends of said posts are formed upwardly-projecting pins 29 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The upper rear rail 6 comprises a pair of rail sections 3|) and 3| connected together in slidable relation by straps 32 and. 33, which extend around said sections, the strap 32 being secured to the section 30 by a nail 34 and the strap 33 being secured to the rail 30 by a nail 35, so that the section 38 may slide through the strap 33 and the section 3| may slide through the strap 32 for lengthening or shortening the rail 6. A thumb screw 36 is threaded. through the section 3|, for engaging the section 30 for securing the rail 6 adjusted to different lengths. In the other ends of the rail sections 33 and 3| are secured eyes 31 to receive the studs 29 and restupon the upper ends of the short rear posts 5, whereby the rail 6 is detachably supported upon the upper ends of said rear posts 5.

Thefront corner posts I, except for their greater height, are of the same construction as the short rear corner posts 5, there being screw clamps 38 on their lower ends. and upstanding pins 39 on their upper ends, the clamps 38 being adapted to clamp the lower ends of said corner posts on the front ends of the sections 2| or 22 of the end rails 4, respectively.

The top front rail 8 is identical in construction to the, upper rear rail 6, and the eyes 31 at the ends of the sections 35} and 3t of said top rail are detachably fitted over the.- pins 39 upon the upper endszof the high front corner posts I.

Th'ettest cover 2., which may bemade of canvas orother suitable material, comprises an inclined top-and-rear member 49, a high front member 4|, and end members 42. In the upper corners of the tent covering 2 are eyelets 43, through which are extended the pins 39 on the upper ends of the high front corner posts 1, respectively, so that the top and lower side member 40 extends over the frame I from the top side rail 8 downwardly at an incline over the upper side rail 6 and down vertically over the lower side of said frame, while the end members 42 extend down over the posts 5 and I at the ends, respectively, of the frame I,

and the front member 4| extends downwardly over the posts I at the front of the tent. Straps 4!! are secured to the lower edge of the top-andrear member 40. Straps 42' are secured to the inner sides of the end members 42 at the lower front corners thereof for securing said corners to the end rails 4 respectively. The end edges of the front member 4| are detachably secured to the front edges of the end members 42 respectively by zipper fasteners 44. In the lower corners of the front member 4| are eyelets 45 to receive pins 46 on the upper ends of a pair of braces 41, respectively, the lower ends of which braces are placed upon the ground against the front ends of the end rails 4 of the frame I, whereby the front member 4| is held swung upwardly and outwardly to maintain the front of the tent open and to provide shade or shelter in front of the tent, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The braces 41 may be extensible by making, each brace in two relatively slidable sections 48 and 49 held together by straps 50 and 5| extending around the same, the strap 50 being nailed by nail 5| to section 49, so'that the section 49 may slide through the strap 50- and the section 48 may slide through the strap 5|, and a thumbscrew 52 is threaded through the section 49 for engaging; the section 48 and securing said sections together in adjusted positions with the brace adjusted to different lengths for holding up the front member meeting edges of said flaps being detachably secured together in closed position by a zipper 51, which may be run down to permit the flaps to be turned down from their upper inner corners as shown in Figure 19.

The tent may be secured to the ground by iron stakes 58, each of which is formed intermediate its ends with an arm 59 which extends laterally from the stake a short distance and then downwardly, so that the stakes may be driven into the ground adjacent the outer side of the end rails 4 of the tent frame I until the arms 59 engage the upper side and inner side of said rails, respectively, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

A rug 69 is placed on the ground inside of the rear rail 3 and end rails 4, which form a floor for the tent.

My tent may be mounted upon a cot 6| to cover and enclose the same, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. In this form of my invention the base side rail 3 and end rails 4 are dispensed with and a short post 5 and a high post I are clamped by their clamps 23 and 33, respectively, to each horizontal end rail 62 connected to the upper ends of the cross legs 63 of the cot at each end thereof. The upper rear rail 6 is mounted on the.

upper ends of the short rear posts and the top rail 8 is mounted on the upper ends of the high front posts and the covering 2 is placed over said rails and posts as hereinbefore described. The rug 68 is provided with eyelets 54 in its corners and near its side edges, intermediate its ends, to receive cords 65 for tying said rug to the under side of the end rails 62 and side rails 66 of the cot 6| to provide a pocket in which clothes, shoes and other articles may be placed for safekeeping.

The clamps 28 and 38 may be connected, re-

spectively, to the lower ends of the posts 5 and by universal ball-and-socket joints 61, each of which includes a nut 88, threaded at 69 on the socket member 10 of the joint, for engaging the ball ll of the joint for detachably securing the posts adjusted to vertical position or to various inclined positions, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 14. By adjusting the posts 5 and 1 to inclined positions, by the universal joints 61, and securing said posts in such positions by the nuts 69, any slack in the tent covering 2 may be taken up. The universal joints 8! are particularly useful for clamping the posts 5 and to the side rails 88 of a cot as illustrated in Figure 13 of the drawings, which shows a side rail at an angle and a post I adjusted to its normal vertical position, by the universal joint 51, and secured in such position by the nut 69.

In Figure 16 of the drawings is shown an extensible front corner post I which is of the same construction as the extensible brace 41, as shown in Figure 4, except that a screw clamp 38 is secured to the lower end of the slidable section 48 for clamping said lower end of said section upon an end rail 4 of the frame I or upon an end rail 52 of the cot 6|. This extensible corner post I may be adjusted to different heights and secured in such adjusted positions by its set screw 52 for tents of correspondingly different heights, the tent coverings 2 in such cases being correspondingly constructed to fit over the upper end of such adjusted post.

In Figure 8 of the drawings the sections 2 |22 of the end base rails 4 are extended forwardly and secured in such extended position by the set screw 21, while the ends of the front covering member 4| are released from the end covering members 42, by running up the zippers 44, and said front covering member is swung outwardly from its upper edge and its lower corners are secured to the front ends of the end rail sections 22, respectively, by cords 75 extended through the eyelets in said lower corners and tied to the front ends of said end rail sections 22, respectively, thus making extending the tent laterally and making it wider.

In Figure 6 of the drawings two tents are mounted on two cots 6| respectively, spaced laterally from each other, with the fronts of said tents facing each other and the front members 4| of said tents swung up at an angle and supported in such position by the two braces 41, the pins 46 on the upper ends of said braces extending through the eyelets 45 in the corresponding corners of said front members 4| respectively.

My tent may be set up upon the ground as follows:

The rear ends of the sections 2| of the end base rails 4, respectively, are clamped to the ends of the rear base rail 3, by the clamps l6, and said rear base rail and end base rails are laid upon the ground. The rear corner posts 5 are clamped at their lower ends by their clamps 28 to the rear ends of the sections 2| of the end base rails 4, respectively. The upper rear rail 6 is mounted upon the upper ends of the rear corner posts by placing the eyes 31 at the ends of said rail over the pins 29 on the upper ends of said posts. The front corner posts I are clamped at their lower ends, by their clamps 38, upon the front ends of the sections 2| of the end base rails 4, respectively. The top rail 8 is mounted upon the upper ends of the front corner posts by placing the eyes 3! at the ends of said rail over the pins 39 on the upper ends of said posts. The frame I is thus set up completely upon the ground, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and the tent cover 2 is then placed overthe frame, with its top and rear member 48 extending over the top rail 8 and rear upper rail 6 and downwardly from the top rail 8 over the front corner posts and its end members extending downwardly over the front and rear corner posts at the ends respectively of the frame I. The eyelets 43 in the upper front corners of the tent cover 2 are placed over the pins 39 on the upper ends of the front corner .posts 7, respectively. The straps 48' are extended around the rear base rail 3 and tied. The forward lower corners of the end members 42 are then secured to the end rails by the straps 42, which are extended around said rails and tied, as shown in Figure 1. The end edges of the front member 4| are. then connected to the forward edges of the end members 42 by the zippers 44 which are run down from their upper'ends to their lower ends, as shown in Figure 1. The stakes 58 are driven into the ground adjacent the base rails 4 until their arms 59 engage the rails.

To set up my tent upon the cot 6| the rear rail 3 and the end rail 4 are dispensed with and a rear corner post 5 and a front corner post 1 are clamped by their clamps 28 and 38 respectively to each end rail 62 of the cot at the corners, respectively, of the cot. The rear upper rail 8 is mounted upon the upper ends of the rear posts 5 and the top rail is mounted upon the upper ends of the front posts The tent cover 2 is then placed over the top rail 8 and upper rear rail 6, and the posts 5 and I, as above described, but the lower front corners of the end members 42 of the cover are secured to the end rails 62 of the cot by the straps 42'.

The straps 40 and 42' are tied to the rear base rail 3 and the end base rails 4 to hold the cover 2 on the frame I, while the stakes 58, driven into the ground until their arms 59 engage said rails,

hold the frame I on the ground, thus holding the tent firmly on the ground without the use of guy ropes.

I claim:

1. A tent frame comprising a rear base rail, end base rails, clamps for clamping the ends of said rear base rail to the rear ends of said end base rails, respectively, rear corner posts, clamps for clamping said rear corner posts to the rear ends of said end rails, respectively, front corner posts, clamps for clamping said front corner posts to the front ends of said end rails, respectively, a rear upper rail detachablymounted at its ends upon the upper ends of said rear corner posts, respectively, and a front top rail detachably mounted on the upper ends of said front corner posts, respectively.

2. In a tent frame, base rails, corner posts,

clamps for clamping said posts at their lower ends to said base rails, universal joints connecting the lower ends of said posts, respectively, to

said clamps, whereby said posts may be adjusted to vertical or inclined positions, and means for locking said joints for securing said posts in said adjusted positions, respectively.

3. In a tent frame, a rear base rail, end base rails, rear corner posts, clamps for clamping said rear corner posts to the rear ends of said end base rails, respectively, front corner posts, and clamps for clamping said front corner posts to the front ends of said end base rails, respectively.

4. In a tent frame, a rear. base rail, end base rails, clamps for clamping the ends of said rear base rail to the rear ends of said end base rails, respectively, rear corner posts, means for connecting said rear corner posts to the rear ends of said end rails, front corner posts, and means for connecting said front corner posts to the front ends of said end rails.

5. In a tent frame according to claim 3 wherein the lower ends of said corner post-s rest on the upper sides of said end base rails, and wherein said clamps each include a clamping member adjustably supported by a corner post for engaging the lower side of an associated end base rail and binding the upper side thereof in engagement with the lower end at a corner post.

6. In a tent frame comprising a horizontally extending rail and a vertically extending post on which a tent covering may be supported and means for releasably clamping an end of said post to one side of said rail, said clamping means including an angle plate having a portion parallel with the post and a second portion substantially at right angles to the post and spaced from the said end thereof a distance greater than the thickness of said rail, and a clamping member adjustably supported in said second portion for engaging one side of said rail and binding the opposite side thereof against said end of the post in rigid right angular relation thereto.

7. In a tent frame, a rail and a post member each of substantially rectangular cross section and having means for releasably connecting one to the other in substantially right angular relation, said connecting means comprising a laterally opening recess adjacent an end of one of said members for receiving a side of the other member, said recess being defined in part by a free end wall transverse to said other member and spaced from an opposed transverse wall a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the received member, and a clamping member adjustably supported in said free end Wall for binding a face of said received member against the opposed wall.

MOORE LYNN. 

